Darien Boys Win Sixth Consecutive Lacrosse State Championship

After consecutive one-goal wins in the quarterfinal and semifinal rounds of the CIAC Class M state tournament, the Darien boys' lacrosse team routed New Fairfield, 17-5,  in Saturday's title game before a packed house at Brien McMahon High School.

Sophomore Case Matheis, whose motor seems to run in three speeds—fast, faster and "ya gotta be kidding"—scored a school-record nine goals, as the Blue Wave captured their sixth consecutive state championship in a convincing fashion.

The Wave's defense, which according to co-captain George Benitez, "was key in winning this championship," never let the Rebels score consecutive goals.

New Fairfield (18-3) entered the championship on a nine-game winning streak, but Darien outplayed the Rebels from the opening draw to the final horn.

New Fairfield scored the game's first goal on its opening possession just 30 seconds in. That was the first—and only—lead for the Rebels.

Darien tied the game 1 1/2 minutes later on a goal by Henry West, followed by a Graham Maybell score. That's when Matheis went on a tear, ultimately scoring seven of Darien's nine goals in the first half.

He scored his first on a nice Brian Gleason assist, then another to make it 4-1. The Rebels got on the board again when Andy Scalesi got a goal just seconds later, but that was as close as New Fairfield would come in the one-sided contest.

Matheis got his third with 48 seconds left in the quarter and then a fourth goal 16 seconds later to make it 6-2.

It was more of the same in the second quarter, as Matheis opened the stanza with his fifth goal, at which point the Rebels decided to put a "shadow" on him. 

Wherever Matheis went, a Rebel tagged along. But it didn't matter.

After New Fairfield scored, Matheis put two in a row in the back of the net to give the Wave a 9-3 halftime lead.

The only score in the third period was by—guess who?—Matheis.

While Matheis was lighting it up, his teammates were playing at the top of their games as well. After New Fairfield scored its fourth goal,the Wave went on a six-goal tear.

Gleason scored on some nifty passing after a steal by Bayliss Treen, then Matheis got his ninth off a pretty double move that froze the defender.

Gleason then scored another, followed by Robbie Winter, Alex Brown, and Richard Gregory.

Winning state championships is old hat for Darien, but according to Benitez and Gleason, who are both seniors, this one was  the "sweetest of all of them."

"The newest championship is always special, but the '05 team was also special because that was an undefeated team," Darien coach Jeff Brameier said. "This team was never interested in individual statistics—just in winning and getting the job done."

Matheis, who has two more years to look forward to, said he was able to find room and that everything he tried went in.

Senior goalie Andrew West, whom Brameier calls "the best goalie in the state," played his last game for Darien.

"When you think of four state championships in four years, it's really unbelievable," West said.